Power delivery for processing units

Abstract

A system includes hardware logic circuit configured to execute power control software. The hardware logic circuit executes the power control software to receive a request from a processing unit for delivery of a power level corresponding to a first power state and determine that the processing unit should operate at a second power state, where the second power state is different than the requested first power state. The hardware logic circuit also executes the power control software to cause a power supply to deliver a power level corresponding to the second power state to the processing unit.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising: a processing unit configured to operate at a plurality of power states; a sensor to generate a sensor signal indicative of a parameter; a power supply configured to deliver power levels corresponding to the plurality of power states to the processing unit; and a hardware logic circuit coupled to the processing unit and configured to execute power control software to: receive a request from the processing unit for delivery of a power level corresponding to a first power state; receive the sensor signal from the sensor; determine, in response to the request and based on the sensor signal, that the processing unit should operate at a second power state, the second power state being higher than the requested first power state; and cause the power supply to deliver a power level corresponding to the second power state to the processing unit. 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the system sensor comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: an ambient temperature sensor, a processing unit temperature sensor, a fan speed sensor, a fan ramp rate sensor, a processor package voltage sensor, an electronic component voltage sensor, and a processing unit current sensor. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a memory storing a database comprising historical or system performance data, wherein the hardware logic is configured to determine that the processing unit should operate at the second state based on the historical or system performance data. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a voltage regulator controller, wherein the hardware logic circuit is implemented on the voltage regulator controller. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a voltage regulator controller; and 
 a programmable logic device between and coupled to each of the processing unit and the voltage regulator controller; 
 wherein the hardware logic circuit is implemented on the programmable logic device; and 
 wherein the voltage regulator controller is configured to implement a slave version of the power control software. 
 
     
     
       6. A system, comprising: a memory storing a database comprising historical or system performance data; and hardware logic coupled to the memory and configured to execute power control software to: receive a request from a processing unit for delivery of a power level corresponding to a first power state; determine, in response to the request and based on the historical or system performance data from the database, that the processing unit should operate at a second power state, the second power state being different than the requested first power state; and cause a power supply to deliver a power level corresponding to the second power state to the processing unit. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein the request for delivery of the power level corresponding to the first state comprises a request to transition from a state associated with a higher power level to the first state, the hardware logic further configured to cause the power supply to deliver a power level greater than the power level associated with the first state. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6  wherein the request for delivery of the power level corresponding to the first state comprises a power value that is limited in quantity by a communication protocol between the processing unit and the power controller, the hardware logic further configured to cause the power supply to deliver a power level greater than the power value. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6  wherein the request for delivery of the power level corresponding to the first state comprises a request to transition from a state associated with a lower power level to the first state, the hardware logic further configured to cause the power supply to deliver a power level less than the power level associated with the first state. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 6  further comprising a system sensor, wherein the hardware logic is configured to determine that the processing unit should operate at the second state based on data received from the system sensor indicative of a parameter or parameters sensed by the system sensor. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 6  wherein the hardware logic comprises a baseboard management controller (BMC). 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 6  further comprising a voltage regulator controller, wherein the hardware logic is implemented on the voltage regulator controller. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a voltage regulator controller; and 
 a programmable logic device between and coupled to each of the processing unit and the voltage regulator controller; 
 wherein the hardware logic is implemented on the programmable logic device; and 
 wherein the voltage regulator controller is configured to implement a slave version of the power control software. 
 
     
     
       14. A method, comprising: receiving, at a power controller, a request from a processing unit for delivery of a power level corresponding to a first power state; determining, in response to the request and based on a sensor signal, that the processing unit should operate at a second power state, the second power state being different than the requested first power state; and causing a power supply to deliver a power level corresponding to the second power state to the processing unit. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein the request for delivery of the power level corresponding to the first state comprises a request to transition from a state associated with a higher power level to the first state, the method further comprising causing the power supply to deliver a power level greater than the power level associated with the first state. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14  wherein the request for delivery of the power level corresponding to the first state comprises a power value that is limited in quantity by a communication protocol used by the processing unit and the power controller, the method further comprising causing the power supply to deliver a power level greater than the power value. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14  wherein the request for delivery of the power level corresponding to the first state comprises a request to transition from a state associated with a lower power level to the first state, the method further comprising causing the power supply to deliver a power level less than the power level associated with the first state. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14  further comprising generating a signal for the processing unit that indicates that a delivered power level corresponds to the first state.